A customer complained to Trading Standards after they purchased ham at the shop on December 11, 2013, which had a use-by date of December 9

A customer complained to Trading Standards after they purchased ham at the shop on December 11, 2013, which had a use-by date of December 9

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A Shinfield grocery store has admitted selling out-of-date food.

Pritesh Patel, the sole director of Shinfield Convenience Store Ltd trading as Shinfield Off Licence and General Store, admitted four offences at Newbury Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 24.

A customer complained to West Berkshire and Wokingham Trading Standards after they purchased ham at the School Green shop on December 11, 2013, which had a use-by date of December 9.

An officer visited the store on December 18 and found a further nine items past their use-by dates - ranging between four and eight days - consisting of two packs of smoked bacon, two sausage rolls, two pasties, and three packs of potato salad.

Further checks revealed the store had previously been visited by trading standards about similar matters in March last year.

The court heard that during his interview, Patel confirmed the company was aware of the legal requirements and that the previous incident was the failing of the then-manager who had since been sacked.

He said his wife and daughter had been left in charge of the store between December 14 and January 14 while he was out of the country, but he had failed to leave them any real instructions. He also said he regretted the incident and gave assurances that a system was now in place.

The magistrates fined the company £400 for each of the product type offences. It was also ordered to pay £300 costs and a £40 victim surcharge, making the total penalty £1,940.

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for resident services, said: “I hope this example sends a clear message to shops, whose customers put their trust in them, that if they are thinking of selling food that has passed its use-by date they will be investigated and where appropriate prosecution will follow.”

To report a trading standards related matter or get advice contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Line on 08454 04 05 06.